As a new age "worker", every day at work using the computer mouse work, after work holding a mobile phone tablet leisure entertainment, hands seem to never leave the electronic equipment.
But if long-term, repetitive keyboard typing, moving the mouse and other actions, wrist pain and other discomfort symptoms, we must be careful "mouse hand" may find you.
What is mouse hand
Mouse hand is the scientific name for carpal tunnel syndrome, a peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome caused by the compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. The "median nerve", which is responsible for the sensation in the fingers, is compressed while conducting some nerve tendon tunnels in the wrist.
The main symptoms are pain in the front of the wrist and numbness in the hand, tingling or swelling in the thumb, index finger and middle finger, and reduced grip strength. Severe cases of mouse hand can lead to discomfort throughout the upper limbs, especially soreness in the shoulders and neck.
Who is most likely to be affected
Office workers who use computers for long periods of time, housewives, technical workers, drivers and the elderly are very susceptible to mouse-handedness due to work strain or physical decline.
Women are the biggest victims of carpal tunnel syndrome because they usually have smaller wrist tubes than men and the median nerve in the wrist is easily compressed.
Test yourself for mouse hand
One, extend your elbow to the side, point your fingers to the floor and press the backs of your two hands together and hold for 60 seconds. If there is a persistent pain, numbness or burning sensation on the outside of the thumb, index finger, middle finger and ring finger, this is a symptom of mouse hand.
Second, tap your hand gently on the median nerve area proximal to your wrist. If you experience numbness and tingling in your thumb, index finger, middle finger and part of your ring finger, note the presence of mouse hand.
Third, with your wrist outstretched and your thumb at the base of your little finger, fold your whole hand and hold it, bending it towards your little finger. If this feels painful, it means that the hand is overworked and it is time to take care of rest.
Mouse hand relief method
Straight arm stretch: stretch out your arms, level with your shoulders, then cross your left and right hands tightly and clasp your ten fingers. Inhale, stretch your arms upwards, maintain the posture for 15~20 seconds. This will increase wrist flexibility and reduce shoulder pain. Note: After stretching upwards, keep your arms close to your ears and your elbows straight.
Wrist exercise: Straighten the left hand with the palm facing inwards and the fingers downwards. Press the right hand against the back of the left palm and apply inward pressure, holding your breath and maintaining the movement for 30 seconds. Then switch to the right hand and repeat 2 to 3 times.
Straighten the left hand with the palm facing outwards and fingers upwards. Hold the four fingers of the left hand in the right hand, then apply force backwards, holding your breath, and maintain the movement for 30 seconds. Then switch to the right hand and repeat 2 to 3 times.
Wrist rotation: Extend your arms flat, hold your fist and rotate your fist inwards on the axis of your arm for 15-20 seconds, then do it again in the opposite direction, keeping your shoulders and arms stable and still. This relaxes the wrist muscles, keeps the wrist flexible and relaxes the arm nerves.
Mouse prevention tips
The head of the hard work of the "workers", but do not underestimate the "mouse hand" injury, rather than wait until the serious onset of the disease, as early as possible to do a good job of prevention.
When using a computer, the forearm and elbow should be as close to the body as possible, as relaxed as possible, so as not to use the mouse when the body leaned forward, and try not to let their arms hanging in the air.
When using the mouse, keep a natural arc when holding the mouse in your hand, do not have the angle of squeezing your wrist, also use the wrist pad, put your hand on the wrist pad and then operate the mouse, this can relieve wrist fatigue.
Avoid working continuously for a long time, avoid the fingers and wrist joints for a long time to do the same action or keep the same posture, in the middle arrange a small time break, activity fingers, wrists, arms and head and neck.
